Traction

Snow. Beautiful, white, delicate, and extremely slippery at times. Recently, a lot of places got around a foot of snow, and even more than that in others. Some people love it, others despise it, and still, others just don't care. Personally, I love snow. I think it is fun and a beautiful reminder of who God is. However, I do find it a nuisance at times when I have to go places. I have to remember to get up earlier to clear it off my car and shovel when need be, and I have to remember that I cannot drive fast or something bad will happen.

The other day, I was returning from a spontaneous trip. This was the day after all the snow and the place I am staying was working on clearing it from the driveways and road. The particular driveway at the place I am staying is on an incline and though it's small, the snow makes it very interesting to try and climb. I go to pull my car in and I get stuck. My wheels spin wildly and my car moves side to side, but not up, where it needs to be. I back up and try again. and again... and again... and again... and again... and one more time, before I actually make it up at a weird angle (I provided amusing entertainment for the fellow clearing the roadway... I was blocking his exit, embarrassingly enough). Anyway, though I managed to get up the driveway, it was at a weird angle and with my sister's car being in the garage, I would have to re-adjust my car later. At that moment, however, I was too frazzled and left it alone.

A couple of hours later, I finally decided it was time to mess with my car again and prepared myself to get frustrated. Then, it hits me (picture the moment in a cartoon movie where a light bulb appears above the character's head). I have sand in my trunk for such an occasion. Taking it out, I dump a generous amount all over the driveway then proceed to move my car. Of course, it travels the driveway as though it never had any difficulty before. Eye roll, and a head slap with a sigh of relief.

It's now close to 11 pm as I write this and I got to thinking about how that awkward, frustrating, and annoying moment represents many other moments in my life. Currently, I am attempting to climb up many hills and a few mountains. Some of them are easier than others. I've run up all of them repeatedly, only to slide back down again and again and again and so on. Other times I am so close but get stuck in a weird place. I try so hard on my own, wasting a lot of time and energy before realizing I need to take a moment and step back. And that is when I hear God's voice directing me and I get the traction to tackle the hills and mountains as though they are nothing.

On my own, I am and will never be enough for myself or for God. I will never succeed at anything. I will never measure up to God's standards because He is Holy, Righteous, Just, Perfect. I am not. I need Jesus to be able to even enter into God's presence in prayer. I need Jesus to be cleansed of all my sins so I can enter into eternal life with Him. I need Jesus to guide me so I don't slip and slide all over the place. I need Jesus, period.

Challenges come in many ways, shapes, and forms. It's the way of this fallen world. We are not supposed to face them alone, however. If we do, we won't get anything right and even though it may seem like we "made it," we are not even close. We need Jesus, the one whom once we grab hold of, through His power alone, we will conquer any mountain and overcome any storm that comes our way.